Star-shaped decorative object

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a star-shaped decorative object ( 2 ), in addition to blanks and an associated production method. The decorative object comprises at least two interconnected blanks ( 4, 6; 58, 60; 66, 72 ) consisting of paper or foil, at least one ( 4, 6; 58, 60; 72 ) of which comprises a central part ( 12 ) and a plurality of points ( 8, 10; 74, 76 ) projecting outwards beyond the central part ( 12 ). The central part ( 12 ) of said blank ( 4, 6; 58, 60; 72 ) is provided with several fold lines ( 24 ) that run from a central point ( 26 ) towards the points ( 8, 10; 74, 76 ) and is folded alternately along adjoining fold lines ( 24 ) in opposite directions in a V, in such a way that between two respective fold lines ( 24 ) that are separated by an additional fold line ( 24 ), areas ( 44  and  40 ) that are folded inwards and outwards are formed with the additional fold line ( 24 ) running through their center. To interconnect the two blanks ( 4, 6; 58, 60; 66, 72 ) to form a hollow three-dimensional body, the points ( 8 ) are pushed through openings ( 28; 70 ) of one of the other blanks ( 6, 4; 60, 58; 66 ) in areas of the folded blank ( 4, 6; 58, 60; 72 ) that are folded inwards ( 44 ).

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This patent is related to, claims priority benefit of, and is a U.S.National Phase Application of International Application No.PCT/EP2005/010947, which was filed on Oct. 21, 2005, and which claimedpriority benefit of a German National Patent Application filed on Oct.21, 2004, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a three-dimensional star-shaped decorativearticle or decorative object, especially for use as a Christmas windowdecoration or Christmas tree ornament, consisting of two or more blanksmade of a paper or foil material, joined together, as well as a methodand a set of blanks for its manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Three-dimensional stars for decoration purposes during the Advent orChristmas season or as window decoration or Christmas tree ornament,produced by folding from paper blanks, are known, for example, a starmarketed under the name of “Annaberg Window Star” [AnnabergerFensterstere] or “Erzgebirg Window Star” [“ErzgebirgischerFensterstern”] with eight closed points extending in a circle over amiddle part. There, on opposite sides of the star, the paper or foilmaterial is provided with sixteen radially-extending fold lines, wherebyit is folded in a V-shape in opposite directions at neighboring foldlines. By means of this alternating folding, areas that are foldedinwardly are formed between two fold lines running through the tips ofneighboring points, through the middle of which a fold line extends to are-entering corner between the two neighboring points. Conversely, thefold lines that run from the middle of each side of the star to twoneighboring re-entering corners define outwardly-folded areas throughthe middle of which the fold lines extend to the points of the star.Similar known stars with points extending outwards radially in severaldirections, known under the name of “Herrenhut star” are known from DE36 18 092 A1, from DE 90 11 320 U1, from DE 85 16 185 U1 or from DE 19609 168 C2. However, to produce these stars, several blanks and/or partsmust be glued together, which is only possible manually, at a relativelyhigh cost.

Furthermore, it is known from the origami technique that two-dimensionaland three-dimensional stars with a different number of points can beproduced from several paper blanks merely by folding. In order toachieve the holding together of the individual blanks without glue,normally a pocket is folded into each blank into which a part of aneighboring blank is inserted and this is also relatively costly andtime-consuming.

Furthermore, a decorative Christmas star is disclosed in DE 1 735 277U1. This folded star consists of two identical folded foil blanks joinedtogether, each of which has a middle part as well as four longer andfour shorter points extending outwardly beyond the middle part. Eachblank is provided with eight fold lines which run from the midpoints oftheir middle parts to the tips of the points. The two blanks are foldedin a V-shape alternately in opposite directions at the fold lines andthen brought together in such a way that the midpoints of their middleparts point in opposite directions and the points are rotated by 45degrees so that the shorter points of one blank come to lie in therecesses formed by the longer points of the other blank, wherein amutual fixation on the blanks occurs that is not described in moredetail.

Based on this, the task of the invention is to provide an aestheticallypleasing star-shaped three-dimensional decorative article from two ormore blanks joined together, made of a paper or foil material, as wellas to provide a method and a set of blanks for its production, making itpossible to produce the decorative article without gluing and at a lowcost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This task is solved by the invention according to the features of thedisclosed decorative object.

Surprisingly, it was found that a decorative object with features asdisclosed herein makes it possible to assemble two or more blankswithout glue to form a stable three-dimensional star, which has anessentially closed body and points that extend wreathlike beyond thebody.

The decorative article according to the invention can be used forpurposes other than advent or Christmas decorations, for example as alampshade or packaging container.

At least one of the blanks must be star-shaped and have a middle part,several points extending beyond this outwardly and a plurality of foldlines that run from a point in the middle of the middle part in thedirection of the points, so that the blank can be folded alongneighboring fold lines alternately in opposite directions into aV-shape, whereby in each case, between two fold lines, separated by anadditional fold line, inwardly-folded and outwardly-folded areasrespectively are formed, with the additional fold line in their middle.When only two blanks are used, the other, preferably also star-shapedblank can be flat and can have all the openings required for joining theblanks. Since, however, these blanks have a very appealingthree-dimensional form only when viewed from one of their sides, andtherefore are mostly used as wall or table decoration, a preferredembodiment of the invention provides that the second blank has a formsimilar to or preferably identical to the said first blank, throughwhich the production of the folded star can also be simplified. Then themiddle part of the second blank also has several fold lines, runningfrom a midpoint in the direction of the points and is folded alternatelyin opposite directions at neighboring fold lines. In order to join thetwo blanks, in this case the points on the inwardly-folded areas of oneof the blanks are introduced through openings in the outwardly-foldedareas of the other blank, as a result of which the folded star assumesan appealing three-dimensional form when viewed from either side.

The through openings in the blank or blanks are expediently designed insuch a way that they have a rotational symmetry with respect to themidpoint of the particular blank. When using two blanks that areprovided with fold lines or that are folded, with alternating longer andshorter points, the through openings are preferably arranged in thelonger points, whereby their distance from the midpoint is preferablysmaller than the distance from the tips of the shorter points and largerthan the latter's distance from the re-entering corners between thepoints.

When three or more blanks are used, preferably two of the blanks arefolded along the fold lines alternately in opposite directions in aV-shape, while the other blank or blanks are expediently essentiallyflat and are sandwiched between the folded blanks, whereby the openingsfor the inwardly-folded regions of the folded blanks are stamped outeither in one or both of the flat blanks and/or in the other foldedblank.

For better explanation, within the framework of this application, an“inwardly” or “outwardly” folded area of a blank of the finishedthree-dimensional decorative article is understood to be an areaconsisting of two neighboring slanting flanks of the blank, which alwaysextend on both sides of a fold line to the respective neighboring foldline. Hereby, the middle fold line, which divides the area into twohalves, forms the bottom line of a valley which has an approximatelyV-shaped cross-section, or the vertex line of a peak, which has anapproximately V-shaped cross-section, whereby the outsides of the twoflanks enclose an angle of less than 180 degrees in the first case andan angle of more than 180 degrees in the second case. Where neighboringfold lines, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, runfrom the midpoint of each blank to the tips of neighboring points, eachof the inwardly-folded or outwardly-folded areas respectively extendsbetween one fold line and the fold line after the next one. Thedirectional statements “inwardly” or “outwardly” refer to the alreadyfolded blank, namely when looking at their raised sides, the middleparts of which, in the finished three-dimensional decorative article,form the outside of the decorative article, which will also be referredto below simply as folded star.

Since the inwardly-folded and outwardly-folded areas follow each otheralternately around the midpoint of each blank that is provided with foldlines, preferably each of the outwardly-folded areas of each blank isprovided with a through opening and each of the inwardly-folded areas isprovided with a point, which is introduced through a through opening inthe opposing outwardly-folded area of the other blank, in order to jointhe two blanks by interleaving with one another.

When, during the manufacture of the folded star, the two blanks becomesomewhat compressed, when a part of their point is being introduced intothe through openings of the other blank, and are, as a result, somewhatmore strongly folded than before, due to the inherent elasticity of thepaper or foil material, subsequently the blank has the tendency toreturn to a flatter, less strongly folded form. This counteracts anundesired separation of the two blanks, which are joined together, andleads to a more solid seating of the points in the through openings,especially when the opening cross-section of the latter ones correspondsapproximately to the profile of the former ones. When during handling ofthe star pressing forces are applied onto the blanks from the outside,the latter ones spread out again, whereby the points penetrate furtherinto the openings and thus the undesired separation of the blanks issimilarly counteracted.

To prevent an unintended separation of the blanks, even when opposingtensile forces are applied to these, according to a preferred embodimentof the invention, it is provided that at least some of the points areinterlocked with the other blank when inserted into the throughopenings, so that the points can no longer come loose from the throughopenings on their own. Preferably, the interlocking is achieved byproviding at least some of the points with a notch on theinwardly-folded areas of each blank on one or both side edges of thepoints, the notch holding expediently an opposing end of the opening.However, alternatively, the openings can also be stamped out so that oneor several projections extend beyond one of their opposite borderingedges, these projections being bent over, when a point is introduced,and penetrates into an opening stamped out from this point when thepoint has been inserted into the opening as far as prescribed.

Preferably, the openings are essentially in the form of V-shaped slitopenings, which are stamped out expediently near a baseline whichinterconnects re-entering corners on both sides of the point. In theblanks provided with fold lines, expediently, an opening is stamped outonly in every other point, whereby, in the case of blanks withalternating shorter and longer points, the opening is arranged in therespective longer points or in an adjoining area of the middle partbordering it, while the respective shorter point is inserted with itstip through a through opening in the other blank.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the points into the slitopenings, their opposite bordering edges, over the entire length or overa part of the length of the openings, can have a small distance that isexpediently two to ten times the thickness of the blank. The slitopenings are preferably symmetrical with respect to the fold lines atthe vertex lines of the outwardly-folded areas. Preferably, hereby, atleast one of the two opposite bordering edges, expediently the outerbordering edge of each slit opening, is composed of two edge sectionsthat converge in a V-shape in the direction of the fold line. The anglebetween the converging edge sections corresponds expediently to theangle of the cross-sectional profile of the point of the other blankinserted through the slit opening. In order to prevent a tearing of theslit openings at their ends, these latter ones can be rounded orprovided with small rounded extensions.

The thickness of the finished folded star, that is, the mutual distanceof the midpoints of the two blanks, can be altered while keeping theshape of the points essentially the same, by shifting the openingseither closer to the midpoint of each blank, as a result of which thestars become thicker, or by shifting them further toward the tips of thepoints, as a result of which the stars become thinner. As alreadymentioned, the openings are preferably arranged near the foot of eachpoint, that is, near the baseline which interconnects two neighboringre-entering corners on both sides of the respective point.

In order to insure that the middle parts of the two blanks surround anessentially completely closed cavity, another preferred embodiment ofthe invention provides that the two blanks lie against one another attheir re-entering corners between neighboring points. Moreover, theopposite edges of each point entering through an opening are preferablyformed between the ends of this opening and the two re-entering cornersadjoining the point in such a way that they correspond there to thecross-sectional form of the outwardly-folded area provided with theopening. In this case, the two blanks are in line contact not onlywithin the openings but also on both sides of them. Such a peripheralline contact between the two blanks can be achieved especially well inthe case of triangular points when, on the inwardly-folded areas in thearea of their foot, the points are somewhat narrower than or, as amaximum, exactly as wide as the points on the outwardly-folded areas ofeach blank, which are provided with openings.

In any case, for aesthetic reasons, it may be preferable to leave gapsbetween the blanks in order to achieve light-and-shadow effects or tocreate light exit openings for a light source arranged inside the star.

The folded star according to the invention can be varied in many otherways as well, for example with regard to material, which can be tintedcardboard or transparent, translucent or opaque plastic film, but canconsist alternatively of multilayer glued colored transparent Chinesepaper or a metal foil; the material thickness or area weightrespectively, of the blanks, which are preferably in the range of 0.25mm to 2 mm or 50 g/m² to 400 g/m², depending on the material; thesurface properties of the visible surfaces of the star, which can besmooth, rough or embossed; possible coatings on all or a part of thesurfaces, for example glitter, metallization, gold or silver spray;breakthroughs or perforations in the blanks; as well as, naturally, thethree-dimensional shape of the star, which can be adapted to satisfyalmost any taste by changing the number of points, for example 6, 8, 10,12, etc., the length of the points, the arrangement of longer andshorter points or differing lengths of the longer points, the projectinglength of the shorter points, the shape of the individual points, forexample with straight, zig-zag or wavy edges or double tips on all or apart of the points, the proportions of the star, that is, thethickness-to-length ratio of the points, as well as the size of thestar.

Preferably, the fold lines extend from the midpoint of the middle partto the tips of the points, however, they can also end closer to themidpoint, for example at the foot of the points or at the openings, as aresult of which, especially in the area of the points instead of theV-shaped cross-sections, U-shaped cross-sections result. Expediently,the fold lines are directed radially, but they can also be bent in aslightly spiral form. In case of points with double tips, the fold linescan end between the two tips. Generally, within the framework of thepresent invention, the fold line is understood to mean a line thatfacilitates the folding of the blanks and it is preferably an embossedgroove or a row of perforations.

Furthermore, two blanks of different color or blanks withdifferently-colored flat surfaces can be used, as a result of which, inthe former case, looking at it from one side, points arranged next toone another have different colors, while in the latter case additionallythe colored stars themselves have different colors when looked at themfrom the opposite sides. When a transparent film material is used, thefold lines facing away from the user can be seen through the otherblank, by means of which the three-dimensional effect can be furtherenhanced. Furthermore, especially for the blanks of larger folded stars,a translucent material can also be used and a light source can be placedinside the folded star, which illuminates both middle parts from theinside. Especially beautiful lighting effects can be achieved when thetwo blanks do not lie tightly against one another near the throughopenings or if the points introduced through the through openings areprovided with small cut-outs or perforations in front of the throughopenings. Then the light from the inside of the folded star can fallthrough the gap between the blanks or through the cut-outs orperforations onto the tips of the other blank neighboring the openingsand can illuminate these from the outside while the rest of the foldedstar emits light from within.

Expediently, the light source is an incandescent light bulb connected toa power source through at least one cable, which is led out from theinside of the folded star expediently in the area of two neighboringre-entering corners of the two blanks, and which can also be used tohang the folded star. Furthermore, the folded stars according to theinvention can also be applied around the incandescent lights of a stringof lights. Hereby, one can use a cable of the string of lights forhanging, guiding it inside the star between two neighboring points andleading it out again from it between two other neighboring points.Alternatively, one of the blanks can have an opening in the middle for alight socket of the incandescent light which is plugged into a mountingof the light through the opening, whereby the blank is clampedin-between the socket and the mounting.

An especially interesting appearance of the folded star is obtained alsowhen all or part of the points are folded reversed in theoutwardly-folded areas on the far side of the openings, so that at leastsome of the openings are adjoined by an outwardly-folded area on theirinner bordering edges and by an inwardly-folded tip of the point attheir outer bordering edges. The outwardly-folded areas on the innerside of each opening and the inwardly-folded tips on their outside arejoined hereby expediently by two thin material bridges preferablybordering the ends of the openings. Using such an arrangement, theintroduction of the points into the openings can also be facilitatedduring the assembly of the two blanks because the openings will openfairly wide in this way without having an adverse influence on theholding together of the finished folded star.

The hanging of the folded star is preferably carried out with the aid ofa loop of thread that is preferably attached to one of the longer pointsprovided with an opening, whereby, expediently, either it is glued ontothe inwardly-folded side of its tip or it is threaded through two roundopenings connected to the side edges of the blank by cut-outs.

In order to produce the decorative article according to the invention,at first two or three blanks are stamped out from a paper or foilmaterial, of which at least one has a middle part, a plurality of pointsextending beyond the middle part and a number of fold lines, preferablycorresponding to the number of points, the fold lines running from amidpoint of the middle part outwardly in the direction of the points, sothat, after stamping out, this blank can be folded at adjacent foldlines in a V-shape in opposite directions. Hereby, between each two foldlines separated by another fold line, inwardly-folded andoutwardly-folded areas respectively are formed, with the other fold linein the middle. At least one of the other blanks is provided with anumber of through openings in the stamping out process, through whichthe tips of the points of the folded blank can be inserted or introducedin order to join the two blanks with each other. Preferably, twoidentical blanks are used, both of which are provided with shorterpoints at the inwardly-folded areas and with longer points at theoutwardly-folded areas and in which through openings are stamped outalong the fold lines to the tips of the longer points, through whichthrough openings the points at the inwardly-folded areas of the otherblank can be inserted in order to join the two blanks with each other.

In machine production, this last step is preferably performedsimultaneously for all points inserted through an opening, by firstbringing both blanks into a position in which the points at theinwardly-folded areas of each blank face the openings in theoutwardly-folded areas of the other blank, before moving them towardsone another along a straight line running through their midpoints,whereby first the points enter into the through openings and then, bymeans of a further approach, the blanks become somewhat spread out inorder to anchor the points in the openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained below with a few practical examplesshown in the drawing. The following are shown:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an eight-point folded star according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view from the back of the folded star from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the folded star from FIG. 1 at a slant from frontand above

FIG. 4 is a side view of the folded star from FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the folded star of FIG. 1 without hangeralong the line V-V in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view onto a blank for the two halves of the folded starfrom FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is a side view of a first variation of the folded star;

FIG. 8 is a front view of another variation of the folded star;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a ten-point folded star;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a six-point folded star;

FIG. 11 is a top view onto a blank for the two halves of the folded starfrom FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away front view of the folded star from FIGS.1 to 5 with illumination;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a folded star made from a folded blankprovided with fold lines and a flat blank;

FIG. 14 is a perspective side view of the folded star from FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view from the back of the folded star from FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a top view onto the blank, provided with fold lines, of thefolded star from FIGS. 13 to 16;

FIG. 17 is a top view onto the flat blank of the folded star from FIGS.13 to 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the folded star from FIGS. 1 to 5 withillumination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The folded stars 2 shown in FIG. 1 to 12 consist of two identical blanks4, 6 stamped out from cardboard or plastic film, folded and thenassembled together, as well as of a loop made of thread 7 serving ashanger.

As depicted best in FIG. 6 based on the example of blank 4, each of thetwo blanks 4, 6 of the folded star 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 has the shapeof a flat eight-point star with four smaller points 8 and four largerpoints 10, which project outward beyond an eight-cornered middle part 12and which are delineated each by two straight converging side edges 14and 16, respectively. The middle part 12 is bordered toward the outsideby imaginary baselines 18, 20, which, at the foot of each point 8, 10connect the two re-entering corners 22 bordering the points 8, 10, as itis shown in FIG. 6 by the dash-dot lines.

When the blanks 4, 6 are stamped out of tinted cardboard or printedcardboard, this expediently has an area weight of at least 100 g/m²,better still more than 120 g/m² and best of all more than 130 g/m², inorder to obtain a finished folded star 2 with sufficient stiffness. Whenusing colored or printed plastic film, depending on the size of thestar, this has a thickness of at least 0.1 mm, better still at least 0.2mm and best of all at least 0.25 mm.

Already during stamping, the blanks 4, 6 are provided with a total offour embossed, pressed or perforated straight fold lines 24, which eachconnect the tips of two opposite points 8, 10 with one another and allof which intersect in the middle of middle part 12 at a point 26.Moreover, during the stamping out, each of blanks 4, 6 is provided withfour slit openings 28 that are arranged near the baseline 20 of eachlarger point 10, whereby they are oriented essentially transversely tothe fold lines 24 running from the midpoint 26 to the tips of the largerpoints 10 and are symmetrical to the fold lines 24. In the blank 4 shownin FIG. 6, at their outer side facing the tips of points 10, the slitopenings 28 have a straight bordering edge 30 lying on the baseline 20,while the bordering edge 32 on the inner side of the slit openings 28 iscomposed of two halves or edge sections which diverge outwardly at anobtuse angle. Alternatively, also both bordering edges 30, 32 can havediverging edge sections. The outer bordering edges 30 of slit openings28 are at a distance from midpoint 26 that is smaller than the distancebetween the midpoint 26 and a point P1 on the fold lines 24 of thesmaller points 8, at which the width of the smaller points 8 correspondsapproximately to the width of the slit openings 28. In order to preventa future tearing of the cardboard or of the plastic film, at the ends ofslit openings 28, these ends can be provided with small circularextensions 36, as is indicated in a somewhat enlarged form at one of theslit openings 28 in FIG. 6.

During the folding of blanks 4, 6 following the stamping out, these arenicked or folded along the fold lines 24 between the tips of the largerpoints 10 in one direction and along the fold lines 24 between the tipsof the smaller points 8 in the opposite direction, so that upon lookingat them in the peripheral direction along baselines 18, 20, a flat,zig-zag shaped folding is obtained.

If one looks at the raised surface of a folded blank 4, 6, which, in thearea of the middle part 12, forms the subsequent outside of the foldedstar 2, then each of the fold lines 24 between the tip of a larger point10 and the midpoint 26 forms the vertex line 38 of an outwardly-foldedarea 40. This outwardly-folded area 40 consists of two slanting flanksadjoining each other along the vertex line 38, extending from there tothe respective neighboring fold line 24 and forming a peak with aV-shaped cross-section, whereby their outsides enclose an angle of morethan 180 degrees. Conversely, each of the fold lines 24 between the tipof a smaller point 8 and the midpoint 26, when viewed from thesubsequent outside of the folded star 2, forms the bottom line 42 of aninwardly-folded area 44, which is composed of two slanted flanksadjoining each other along bottom line 42 and which extend from thebottom line 42 to the respective neighboring vertex line 38 and form avalley with a V-shaped cross-section, whereby their outsides enclose anangle of less than 180 degrees. Each of the two flanks of theoutwardly-folded areas 40 at the same time forms a flank of aninwardly-folded area 44 neighboring it in the clockwise orcounterclockwise direction. In other words, the fold lines 24 meeting atmidpoint 26 delineate pairwise areas 40, 44 having V-shapedcross-sections that are folded inwardly and outwardly, alternately.

Next, the two folded blanks 4, 6 are aligned so that, first of all, themidpoints 26 of their middle parts 12 point in opposite directions andlie on a common straight line, which is perpendicular to the planesdefined by the tips of the longer points 10 or by the tips of theshorter points 8 or by the re-entering corners 22 between points 8, 10,respectively, and that, secondly, opposite each larger point 10 of ablank 4, there is a smaller point 8 of the other blank 6; that is, thetwo blanks 4, 6 are rotated by 45 degrees with respect to one anotheraround the straight line through the midpoints 26. Furthermore, the twoblanks 4, 6 are briefly folded more strongly by reducing the anglebetween the outsides of the flanks of the inwardly-folded areas 44,until the tips of the smaller points 8 of each blank 4, 6 are positionedaccurately opposite from the middle of the slit openings 28 of therespective other blank, 6, 4. This is always possible, at least when themidpoint angles between two neighboring fold lines 24 of the blanks 4, 6are all the same and the tips of the smaller points 8 as well as thecenters of the slit openings 28 lie on the fold lines 24.

Then the two blanks 4, 6 are moved towards each other along the straightlines through the midpoints 26 of their middle parts 12 until thesmaller points 8 enter with their tips into the slit openings 28 of thelarger points 10 and penetrate into these simultaneously until theirside edges 14, which diverge toward the middle part 12, contact the endsof the slit openings 28. Then the two blanks 4, 6 are slightly spreadout by enlargement of the angle between the outsides of the flanks ofthe inwardly-folded areas 44, while the smaller points 8 penetratefurther into the slit openings 28 until they project a little distancewith their tips beyond the other blank 6, 4 on the opposite side of thefolded star 2. The spreading of the blanks 4, 6 leads to a mutualinterleaving thereof because hereby the distance between the tips of thesmaller points 8 and the straight line through the midpoints 26 of themiddle parts 12 of the two blanks 4, 6 increases faster than thedistance between this straight line and the slit openings 28 in theoutwardly-folded areas 40.

When, during transportation or handling, pressing forces are applied tothe middle parts of the two blanks 4, 6 of the completed folded star 2,this also leads to the spreading of the blanks 4, 6, through which, thesmaller points 8, to the extent it is still possible, move a fewmillimeters further into the slit openings 28. Therefore, the holdingtogether of the two blanks 4, 6 is not harmed by the pressing forces,but, on the contrary, it is improved. If a pressing force is applied toa smaller point 8 that projects through a slit opening 28, due to theinterleaving of the blanks 4, 6 at the other points 8, 10, this does notlead to the exit of the point 8 from the slit opening 28 either.However, if the need arises, the two blanks 4, 6 of the folded star 2can be separated by gripping them in the area of their middle parts 12and pulling them apart. However, this can also be prevented by assuringthat upon introduction of the points 8 into the slit openings 28, theseinterlock with the latter. For this purpose, the smaller points 8 areprovided with small notches or cut-outs 48 on their opposite side edges14, as shown in FIG. 6. With these notches or cut-outs 48, the oppositeends of the slit openings 28 engage when the points 8 are introduced asfar as possible into the slit openings 28. The notches or cut-outs 48are arranged in a region of the points 8 where these have essentiallythe same width as the slit openings 28. The notches or cut-outs 48 aredesigned so that, together with the side edges 14 of the points 8, theyform small barbs 50, which can interlock at the ends of the slitopenings 28. Entry of these barbs 50 through the slit openings 28 whenthe respecting point 8 is introduced is achieved due to the fact thatthe point 8 deforms somewhat in the slit opening 28.

After the joining of the two blanks 4, 6, their middle parts 12 enclosea cavity 52 (FIG. 5) in the form of a polyhedron, which has almostclosed peripheral contacting lines, due to a mutual contact of the twoblanks 4, 6, on both sides of each slit opening 28 and in the region ofthe re-entering corners 22, when the blanks 4, 6 have approximately thesizes or size relationships shown in the drawing. In these blanks 4, 6,the smaller points 8 at the inwardly-folded areas 44, are, on the onehand, shorter and in the area of their baseline 18 somewhat narrowerthan the larger points 10 at the outwardly-folded areas 40. On the otherhand, their side edges 14 are approximately in alignment with bottomlines 20 of the adjoining larger points 10. Thus the side edges 14 ofthe smaller points 8 and the baselines 20 of the larger points 10approximately delineate a polygon in which the number of cornerscorresponds to half of the number of points 8, 10 of the blanks 4, 6.However, by changing the dimensions of the larger or longer and of thesmaller or shorter points 8, 10, respectively, that is, their width andlength as well as their relationships of length to breadth, foldingstars 2 can also be produced in which the blanks 4, 6 do not lie againstone another on either side of the slit openings 28 or do so only insections.

Moreover, the tips of the V-shape-folded shorter points 8 of each blank4, 6 extend through the slit openings 28 in the longer points 10,whereby on the opposite side of the folded star 2 they project slightlybeyond the outwardly-folded areas 44 of the respective other blank 6,4,which have a V-shape cross-section. However, in comparison to the longerpoints 10, they are visually less pronounced, so that when viewing thefront or back of the folded star 2, an impression of an eight-pointedstar is obtained, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

However, if desired, the size of the projection of points 8 beyond theslit openings 28 can be enlarged by the lengthening and narrowing of theshorter points 8 to such an extent that, on the other side of the slitopenings 28, these will have the same or similar length as the otherpoints 10, through which, at least when viewed from the side, theimpression of a folded star 2 with a larger number of points 8, 10 isobtained, as shown in FIG. 7. The thickness of the folded star 2, thatis, the distance between the midpoints 26 of the middle part 12 of thetwo blanks 4, 6, can be changed too, for example by placing the slitopenings at a smaller or larger distance from the midpoint 28.Especially well-proportioned flat three-dimensional folded stars 2 areobtained when the slit openings 28 are arranged somewhat radiallyoutwardly from the bottom lines 20 of the larger points 10.

Furthermore, the folded star 2 can be provided with a larger or smallernumber of larger and smaller points 8, 10 by providing the blanks 4, 6with a total of ten or twelve points 8, 10 or any arbitrary even numberof points 8, 10, instead of four larger points 10 and four shorterpoints 8, and by joining these together in the manner described above. Afolded star 2 produced in this way with a total of ten longer points 10is shown in FIG. 9, while FIG. 10 shows a six-point folded star 2 withsix longer points 10 and FIG. 11 shows one of the two identical blanks58, 60 used for producing the folded star 2 shown in FIG. 10.

Apart from a different number of longer points 10 and shorter points 8,the folded star 2 shown in FIG. 10 also exhibits a few other smallerdifferences in comparison to the folded star 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.First of all, in the case of the folded star 2 from FIG. 10, the blanks58, 60 along each fold line 24 running diagonally through their midpoint26, are not folded in a single direction, but in one direction along onehalf of the fold line 24 and in the opposite direction along the otherhalf of the fold line 24, that is, on the other side of midpoint 26, sothat an inwardly-folded area 44 lies diagonally across from anoutwardly-folded area 40 and not an outwardly-folded area 40 as in thefolded star 2 from FIGS. 1 to 5. Secondly, the longer points 10 ofblanks 58, 60, provided with the slit openings 28, have at theirbaseline 20 two cut-outs 62 open at the edges, these extending fromopposite side edges 16 of the points 10 along the baseline 20 a shortdistance in the direction of the neighboring front ends of the slitopenings 28. When joining the two blanks 58, 60, these cut-outs 62 canengage in each case with a corresponding cut-out 62 of the other blank60, 58, which, in the completed folded star 2, leads to a mutualoverlapping of the side edges 16 of neighboring points 10 and thus ithas a somewhat different appearance as a consequence. However, on theother hand, this measure also has the effect that the two blanks 58, 60lie more tightly against each other along their peripheral contactingline and due to the additional interleaving in the area of the cut-outs62 will be held together even stronger. A similar result is achievedwhen the points 10 are provided with a cut-out 62 only at one of theirside edges 16, which then must be arranged on the same side of allpoints 10.

When the cut-outs 62 are extended to the vicinity of the opposite frontends of the slit openings 28, as it is shown in the case of theeight-point folded star 2 in FIG. 8, the tips of the larger points 10can be turned down or reversely folded on the other side of the slitopenings 28 along their fold lines 24. Then the two flanks of the points10 form an inwardly-folded area 44 on the other side of slit openings28, which is connected through two narrow material bridges 64 betweenthe front ends of slit openings 28 and the ends of the cut-outs 62 withwhich an outwardly-folded area 40 on this side of slit openings 28 isconnected. In this way, using simple means, a significantly differentappearance can be produced in the perspective view (not shown).

In contrast to the folded stars 2 described above, which consist of twoidentical blanks 4, 6, each provided with fold lines 24, one of the twoblanks 66 of the folded star 2 represented in FIGS. 13 to 15 is flat, asshown in FIG. 17, whereby it has a total of eight equal-sized triangularpoints 68 arranged at the same angular distances and projecting radiallybeyond a middle part 12 and the same number of equal-sized V-shaped slitopenings 70, which are each located at the transition between one of thepoints 68 and the flat middle part 12 of blank 66 with no fold lines. Asshown in FIG. 16, the other blank 72 has eight longer points 74 andeight shorter points 76 which alternate in the peripheral direction andare also arranged at the same angular distances. Apart from the factthat the number of points 74, 76 is larger than the number of points 8,10 in the blanks 4, 6; 58, 60 described before, the blank 72 differsfrom these only in the fact that it has no slit opening, since these areall stamped out from the other blank 66. While the tips of the shorterpoints 76 arranged on the inwardly-folded areas 44 of this blank 72 areinserted through the slit openings 70 of the flat blank 66 and projectbeyond its bottom side, the longer points 74 with their tips projectradially to the outside in the intermediate spaces between two adjacentpoints 68 of the flat blank 66, as is shown best in FIGS. 14 to 16. Whenviewing in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 14, thus one obtains theimpression of a sixteen-point folded star with a raised middle part 12having eight points 74 and eight flat points 68 which are arranged inthe intermediate spaces between the points 74.

As can be seen best in FIG. 17, the outer bordering edges 78 of the slitopenings 70 of the flat blank 64 each consist of two halves or edgesections converging in a V-shape. The length of the two edge sectionsand the angle enclosed by them are preferably chosen so that the outerbordering edges 78 of the slit openings 70 of blank 66, after thejoining of the two blanks 66, 72 along their entire length, lie againstthe flanks of the inwardly-folded areas 44 of the other blank 72 and arein alignment with the side edges 16 of the longer points convergingtoward the tips, as is shown best in FIG. 14. By changing the distanceof the slit openings 70 from the midpoint 26 of the blank 66, the sizeof the projecting length of the folded blank 72 beyond the plane ofblank 66 can be altered. If desired, in addition the contrast betweenthe flat blank 66 and the raised folded blank 72 can be enhanced oremphasized by applying a different color to the blanks 66, 72.

Furthermore, the folded stars 2 shown in FIG. 1 to 11 can be equippedwith an additional flat blank (not shown) which is sandwiched betweenthe two folded blanks 4, 6; 58, 60. The additional blank, like the blank66 in FIG. 17, is provided with slit openings, through which all or apart of the shorter points 8 at the inwardly-folded areas 44 of the twoother blanks 4, 6; 58, 60 are inserted with their tips. The shorterpoints 8 can each be additionally introduced through a slit opening 28in the respective other folded blank 6, 4; 60, 58 or can be anchoredonly in the additional flat blank, whereby this blank then holdstogether the two folded blanks 4, 6; 58, 60. The flat blank subdividesthe cavity 52 defined by the middle parts 12 of the blanks 4, 6; 58, 60into two halves. However, it can have an opening in the middle in casesuch a subdivision is not desired.

The loops of thread 7 which serve to hang the folded stars 2 and whichare shown only in the case of the folded star 2 in the figures, can beglued on the folded star 2 with their thread ends next to one anotherusing an adhesive, preferably a hot melt adhesive, as shown in FIG. 2.Alternatively, however, the loop of thread 7 can also extend through asmall round opening (not shown) in one or both blanks 4, 6. Theattachment of the loop of thread is done expediently either in themiddle of a larger point 10 or in the middle between two larger points10.

In order to facilitate the attachment of the loop of thread 7, this canalso extend through a V-shaped cut-out symmetrically to fold line 38,converging toward middle part 12, in one of the larger points 10.

The folded stars 2 can be made in different sizes and are usedpreferably for Advent or Christmas decoration, for example as windowstars or as tree ornaments for a Christmas tree, but also as lanterns,as lampshades for light fixtures or as packaging containers, for examplefor the packaging of small objects, such as jewelry. Furthermore, aplurality of the folded stars 2 can be lined up along a string oflights, whereby the lights are arranged inside the folded stars 2. Whenthe folded stars 2 are made of a weather-resistant material, trees orshrubs in gardens or parks can, for example, be decorated withilluminated folded stars 2 lined up on a string of lights.

FIG. 12 shows a single folded star 2 of such a string of lights, whichis made of a transparent paper or foil material. The light arrangedinside it in the form of an electrical incandescent light 80 isconnected through two cables 82 to a power source (not shown). Thecables 82 each enter into the cavity 52 enclosed by the middle parts 12of the blanks 4, 6, between two opposing re-entering corners 22 of thetwo blanks 4, 6, and serve at the same time for hanging the folded stars2 of the string of lights so that loops of thread can be omitted here.Alternatively, the folded star 2 shown in FIG. 12 can also be hung as anilluminated solitary light on a single two-line cable (not shown).

FIG. 18 shows another possibility of the combination of a folded star 2with an electrical incandescent light 80 of a commercial string oflights. One of the blanks 4 of the folded star has there in the middlepart 12 a circular opening 84 concentric to its midpoint 26 for a socket86 for an incandescent bulb 88 of the light 80, which, after enteringthrough the opening 84, is inserted in the known manner into acomplementary lamp mounting 90 connected to the cable 82, in order toclamp the edge of the opening 84 between the socket 86 and the mounting90 before the two blanks 4, 6 are connected to one another. In order tosupport the attachment of the blank 4 between the socket 86 and themounting 90, instead of the stamped round opening 84, one can also stampradial cuts starting from the midpoint 26 with a length corresponding tothe radius of the opening 84 in blank 4. In this case, the triangularsections formed between the cuts are bent to the outside of the blank 4,and when the socket 86 is inserted into the mounting 90 they are firmlysecured between these two (not shown).

1. Star-shaped decorative object (2), comprising two blanks of a sheetmaterial (4, 6) joined together, both blanks (4, 6) having a middle part(12) and a plurality of shorter and longer points (8, 10) extendingoutwardly beyond the middle part (12) toward a tip at an outer end ofthe points (8, 10), whereby the middle parts (12) of the blanks (4, 6)are each provided with several fold lines (24) running from a midpoint(26) toward the tips of the points (8, 10) and is folded at neighboringfold lines (24) alternately in a V-shape in opposite directions so thatbetween each two fold lines (24) separated by another fold line (24)inwardly-folded or outwardly-folded areas (44 or 40) are formed with theother fold line (24) in the middle, wherein the tips of the shorterpoints (8) on inwardly-folded areas (44) of each of the two blanks (4,6) are inserted through openings (28) on outwardly folded areas (40) ofthe other one of the two blanks (6, 4), which openings (28) are eachdisposed on the fold lines (24) running from the midpoint (26) towardthe tips of the longer points (10), such that the tips of the shorterpoints (8) project through the openings (20) in order to join the twoblanks (4, 6) for the formation of a hollow three-dimensional body. 2.Star-shaped decorative object according to claim 1, wherein thethree-dimensional body encloses an essentially closed cavity (52). 3.Star-shaped decorative object according to claim 1, wherein at leastsome of the longer points (10) on the outwardly-folded areas (40) of oneof the blanks (4, 6) are arranged between neighboring longer points (10)of the other blank (6, 4).
 4. Star-shaped decorative object according toclaim 1, wherein the two blanks (4, 6) are essentially the same. 5.Star-shaped decorative object according to claim 1, wherein the points(8) on the inwardly-folded areas (44) of one of the blanks (4, 6) areinserted through openings (28) in the outwardly-folded areas (40) of theother blank (6, 4) and/or of another blank introduced between the blanksin order to join the blanks (4, 6) together.
 6. Star-shaped decorativeobject according to claim 1, wherein longer points (10) alternate withshorter points (8) and wherein the shorter points (8) are insertedthrough openings (28) in the longer points (10).
 7. Star-shapeddecorative object according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of thepoints (8) are interlocked in openings (28) in order to make it moredifficult for the points (8) to come loose from the openings (28). 8.Star-shaped decorative object according to claim 1, wherein the width ofthe points (8) on the inwardly-folded areas (44) is somewhat smaller orthe same as the width of the points (10) on the outwardly-folded areas(40).
 9. Star-shaped decorative object according to claim 1, whereinopposite side edges (14) of the points (8) that extend through theopenings (28) lie on both sides of the openings (28) in line contactagainst the points (10) that are provided with openings.
 10. Star-shapeddecorative object according to claim 1, wherein a loop of thread (7)serves as hanger.
 11. Star-shaped decorative object according to claim1, formed at least partly of a translucent or transparent sheet materialand having a light source (80) arranged inside it.
 12. String of lightswith a plurality of electrical lights (80) that are lined up along acommon cable (82, 84) and connected through the cable (82, 84) to apower source, wherein at least part of the lights (80) are arrangedinside a star-shaped decorative object according to claim
 1. 13. Set oftwo blanks of a sheet material (4, 6) for the production of astar-shaped decorative object (2), whereby both blanks (4, 6) have amiddle part (12) and a plurality of shorter and longer points (8, 10;74, 76) extending outwardly beyond the middle part (12) toward a tip atan outer end of the points (8, 10), whereby the middle parts (12) of theblanks (4, 6) are each provided with several fold lines (24) runningfrom a midpoint (26) toward the tips of the points (8, 10) so that theycan be folded at neighboring fold lines (24) alternately in a V-shape,in opposite directions, whereby between each two fold lines (24)separated by another fold line (24), inwardly- or outwardly-folded areas(44 or 40) are formed respectively with the other fold line (24) in themiddle, wherein each of the two blanks (6, 4) has a plurality ofopenings (28) through which the tips of the shorter points (8) oninwardly-folded areas (44) of the other of the two blanks (4, 6) can beinserted for the formation of a hollow three-dimensional body, such thatthe tips of the shorter points (8) project through the openings (28),the openings (28) of each blank (4, 6) being disposed on the fold lines(24) running from the midpoint (26) toward the tips of the longer points(10).
 14. Set of blanks according to claim 13, wherein at least a partof the openings are formed as slit openings (28).
 15. Set of blanksaccording to claim 13, wherein at least a part of the openings (28) aresymmetrical to a fold line (24).
 16. Set of blanks according to claim13, wherein at least a part of the openings (28, 70) have a V-shapedopening cross-section.
 17. Set of blanks according to claim 13, whereinthe fold lines (24) run from the midpoint (26) radially or spirallyoutward.
 18. Set of blanks according to claim 13, and additionallyincluding at least one flat star-shaped blank.
 19. Star-shapeddecorative object (2), comprising at least two blanks (66, 72) joinedtogether, made of a sheet material, of which one is flat and of which atleast one (72) has a middle part (12) and a plurality of points (74, 76)extending outwardly beyond the middle part (12) toward a tip at an outerend of the points (74, 76), whereby the middle part (12) is providedwith several fold lines (24) running from a midpoint (26) toward thetips of the points (74, 76) and is folded at neighboring fold lines (24)alternately in a V-shape in opposite directions, so that between eachtwo fold lines (24) separated by another fold line (24) inwardly-foldedor outwardly-folded areas (44 or 40) are formed, with the other foldline (24) in the middle, wherein the points (76) on the inwardly-foldedareas (44) are shorter than the points (74) on the outwardly-foldedareas (40) and are inserted through V-shaped openings (28) of the flatblank (66) such that the tips of the shorter points (8) project throughthe openings (28) in order to join the two blanks (4, 6) for theformation of a hollow three-dimensional body.